Security on the Internet.. What are you thoughts?
By derek_a
@derek_a (10874)
August 29, 2009 3:57am CST
What do we have to do to keep our details safe on the Internet? I read the other day that we should never divulge things like the town of our birth, our true birthday or our real names and lots more. When I think of it, I have been in business all my life and through advertising, I have had to give my telephone number, name, address and type of business etc. It never even occurred to me about having my identity of personal details stolen. What are your thoughts on this?
2 people like this
10 responses
@livewyre (2450)
•
12 Oct 09
My wife and I had our identities stolen from the electoral role, luckily the fraudsters didn't know our dates of birth (although they had our ages nearly right...).
They failed to open accounts because they didn't have that last piece of information, since then (unless absolutely necessary) I don't give my DOB - if forced I will say 1st January rather than the real date...
1 person likes this
@livewyre (2450)
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14 Oct 09
You're right it was unsettling, but like your credit card incident there was no harm done. I have a sneaking suspicion that a lot of the fuss around identity theft is created by credit card companies to scare us into keeping our details safe so that they don't have to keep reimbursing people when fraudulent activities take place. As far as I am concerned, any identity theft activities are only going to have a financial impact on those that the fraudsters have dealings with - ie. the retailers and the credit card/loan/ companies or banks. It's unsettling for us as the consumer, but I think it unlikely that there would be any financial impact...
(was the restaurant local? is it one I should avoid?? 
not that we use restaurants much nowadays...)
not that we use restaurants much nowadays...)@derek_a (10874)
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13 Oct 09
Wow, that must have been quite an unsettling experience. It only goes to prove that it is not wise to give out dates-of-birth unless it is regally required. It doesn't always happen on the Internet.
We had our credit card details stolen once, but it was after we used it in a restaurant (we think). It was maxed out and we didn't even have a computer in those days. However, the credit card company reimbursed the money because we had insurance. 
- Derek
- Derek
@pweety_princess (2012)
• Australia
29 Aug 09
It is true that you should never give out personal information on the internet. What you have been doing has actually been dangerous, giving away your personal details online. Now that you know that giving away personal details are dangerous, you should be much more careful what you give out and only give out minimal information. Don't give out your name or address, just give the company address and number.
1 person likes this
@derek_a (10874)
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29 Aug 09
Thank you for responding. No, I don't give out my personal details on-line. What I have said here is that I used to give my name, address etc. off-line, meaning away from the Internet, before the Internet was ever popular. There was never any problems then. I was just asking for peoples thoughts on the perils of letting out personal information on the Internet. Which you have done beautifully. - Derek
- Derek
@ronaldinu (12422)
• Malta
28 Feb 10
I have seen a film with Sandra Bullock as the main actress where here identity was stolen over the net. Her task was to regain her identity back! I think we should be careful when divulging personal information but we do not have to be over obsessive. A case in point that sets us thinking is the case of stolen identity of British/Irish Citizens and the killing of one of the Palestinian leaders that happened just a few weeks ago.
1 person likes this
@derek_a (10874)
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28 Feb 10
Thank you for posting. Yes I believe that we need to ge a balance view on security and not become overly-paranoid as we then would have to contend with a lot of stress in our lives. Yes, that business in Palestine was not good at all. I think though, that the authorities are taking things a bit more seriously and hopefully it will become more and more difficult to steal identities. _Derek
_Derek
@twoey68 (13627)
• United States
25 Oct 09
There's actually two very good reasons to keep your personal business, personal. One is idenity theft, a few key pieces of information and you get to spend the next 5-10 years trying to get your life back...a nightmare for most ppl.
The second one is personal safety. There are some really sick individuals out there and all it takes is them following the breadcrumbs to your door and then you've got your own personal sicko to deal with. It's one thing if you want to risk your own life that way but you also have to consider your spouse and children when your posting your address, phone number or anything else.
Not long after I got on the net there was a news story about a woman who met a charming man online and became friends with her. She was widowed and thought she had found a nice person to talk to. One day he called her, she found out he'd tracked down her phone number...well, she decided it creeped her out and didn't want to talk to him anymore. She told him so and the next morning, she found a human head on her front porch as a "gift". That's just one example, there are thousands more from ppl cutting open pregnant women to steal their babies, to kids being kidnapped. You have to keep in mind that you really don't know anything about the person online.
[b]!!Happy Halloween!!
~~AT PEACE WITHIN~~
**STAND STRONG IN YOUR BELIEFS**[/b]
1 person likes this
@nancyrowina (3850)
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30 Aug 09
It's more about bank details than anything else you have to worry about, if they start asking weird questions which might be an answer to a question a bank has given you like what is your mothers maiden name then I'd be wary. It's normally pretty obvious when something is a scam and you just have to try and avoid them. I've seen then everywhere from eBay to dating sites nowhere is safe now days. I talk to people socially but would never hand over any really personal details.
1 person likes this
@EliteUser (3964)
• Australia
1 Oct 09
Hey,
Yea I really do not want to have my personal identity stolen, and then have trouble all my life trying to tell the people that someone has tried to steal my identity. I will never actually give out my address, ever online. Make sure you have a good day, God bless and Happy Lotting!!
1 person likes this
@Opal26 (17679)
• United States
30 Aug 09
Hi derek! It does really worry me too! I have also given those
same types of details out many times on many sites when I
am signing up for things and I really do worry that that
information might fall into the wrong hands! I haven't had
any real problems so far, but one never knows! I really don't
know exactly what anyone could do with that information because
they really would need to have more exact details in order
to totally steal ones identity, or at least I hope they would!
1 person likes this
@derek_a (10874)
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30 Aug 09
Thanks for responding. I am not sure exactly what information a criminal would need to actually steal and identity, so I tend to withhold all that is possible just to keep 'em guessing. There are times when I can worry too, but I tend to counteract that by being a bit philosophical - if it's going to happen then there's little I can do other than get off line altogether. There is an element of risk in all things I guess. - Derek
- Derek @dolphin2406 (1224)
• Poland
29 Aug 09
That is so true but sometimes when required to register to a site you need to give the correct details. Then I hope that it will not be misused, however the most I am careful with are my bank details and never divulge them on internet.
1 person likes this
@derek_a (10874)
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29 Aug 09
Yes, I agree with some sites, they request personal details and sometimes you just have to take a risk that it won't be hacked or similar. I wouldn't divulge my personal bank details on any site. With Paypal or Alerpay though I minimize the risk by only keeping a small amount of money in there and of course, keeping a close eye on my balances and transactions. - Derek
- Derek
@Skyboy0707 (360)
• China
29 Aug 09
Yeah,security is a big problem.Tons of viruses and trojans...wu must face it and take some measures....using anti-virus software,perform good habits when surf internet...
1 person likes this
@derek_a (10874)
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29 Aug 09
Thank you for joining the discussion. Yes, viruses and trojans are another thing we need to guard again. I see many newcomers to the Internet who are having computer problems because they have come on-line without anti-virus software. As you say, we need to get into the habit of looking after our machines and private details. - Derek
- Derek
@haiershen (1080)
• China
26 Oct 09
it is very dangerous for us to give the real name and real banking account rather than give a real address,phone number.i seldom use the real name on line except the site which is recommended by my trust friends,and in order to keep my private informtion safe,i prefer to change the password very frequently.good luck and have a nice day.
